Welcome to my site, my name is Jess Indaja. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes after struggling with my weight throughout my teen years and adulthood. My doctor informed me about all of the dangers associated with my diet and exercise habits. I was encouraged to change the way I ate and moved in an effort to reverse my blood sugar problem. I made the changes, but still struggle with controlling my blood sugar. After going through this trying situation, I decided to make a site that may help others with problems associated with type 2 diabetes. I will discuss diagnostic procedures, treatments and medical research concerning this disease. I hope you visit often and learn all you can to control your type 2 diabetes or help others with this condition.
If you have recently been diagnosed with vitiligo, it's important to know what you can do to reverse or slow down its symptoms. Although vitiligo is an auto-immune disorder that results in patches of uneven skin color all over the body, its symptoms and the severity of those symptoms will vary tremendously from one patient to another. By understanding the disease and asking the right questions, you can often manage it and prevent the problem from worsening.
What Are Its Triggers?
One of the most common reasons for vitiligo to worsen is sun exposure. Even brief periods of time in the sun without adequate protection can cause a new flare-up. Therefore, you should ask your dermatologist about how often you can be in the sun and what type of sunblock would be the most appropriate.
It is important to note that even with the highest level of sunscreen, clothing and a hat may also be necessary. For some individuals, two or three minutes of direct sun exposure on any body part is enough to inspire a vitiligo flare-up. If you prefer to have a more tanned appearance, many patients have done so with the use of self-tanning creams and lotions. When doing so, be sure to start out slowly to get the right result on unevenly pigmented skin.
What Can Be Done Immediately For Smaller Affected Areas?
If you have only recently noticed the uneven skin tones and it does not affect large portions of your skin, you may be a candidate for spot treatments. One option is corticosteroid creams applied topically to the skin for up to eight weeks.
Catching it early and treating with corticosteroid creams can reverse the damage for many patients. However, if you do not see improvement within the first eight weeks of treatment, it's probably time to consider other options.
Another spot treatment involves the use of a powerful, prescription medication that will make your skin very sensitive to the sun. There are several medications that you would receive twice weekly. If successful, you may see results after only 15 treatments, but it could also take up to 100 treatments for the final results.
Is Skin Bleaching Necessary?
Since vitiligo often runs in families, you may already know someone who has had vitiligo for years and has had their skin bleached. Unfortunately, one of the most commonly misunderstood treatments for vitiligo is skin bleaching.
It's useful for individuals with severe vitiligo over most or all of their bodies, who have not responded well to other treatments. Virtually without exception, as a newly diagnosed patient, skin bleaching is not something to plan for.
It's a permanent, all-encompassing removal of pigment from the skin and is done to provide the patient with an even skin tone. That can make the use of makeup, permanent cosmetics and tattoos easier. If you needed that extreme service, it would only be in the future after less invasive procedures are attempted and only if the disease spreads.
In conclusion, vitiligo is challenging to live with, but is not physically painful or dangerous. Although it can be treated, it cannot yet be cured. As a result, it is crucial to talk to your dermatologist about minimizing its spread and symptoms from the beginning.
For more information, contact Desert Dermatology or a similar location.
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